← Back to collie|Back to yorkshire terrier →

Collie (Rough Collie) vs Yorkshire Terrier: Which Suits Your Home?

Collie (Rough Collie) or Yorkshire Terrier? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Collie (Rough Collie) is the heavier at 50–75 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.

This is for someone already down to Collie (Rough Collie) and Yorkshire Terrier and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and shedding, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Yorkshire Terrier rates 5/5 against 2/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.

Quick verdict

Between Collie (Rough Collie) and Yorkshire Terrier, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Yorkshire Terrier is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.

Choose collie if...

Choose Collie (Rough Collie) if this is your first dog, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and the dog will be alone during the working day.

Choose yorkshire terrier if...

Choose Yorkshire Terrier if you are in a flat or a smaller home, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.

Head-to-head comparison

Feature	collie	yorkshire terrier	Winner
Size class	large	small	Equal
Weight	50–75 lbs	4–7 lbs	Equal
Height	22–26 in	7–8 in	Equal
Lifespan	11–14 years	11–15 years	yorkshire terrier
Exercise need	Moderate (3/5)	Low (2/5)	yorkshire terrier
Grooming need	High (4/5)	Very high (5/5)	collie
Shedding	High (4/5)	Very low (1/5)	yorkshire terrier
Energy level	Moderate (3/5)	Moderate (3/5)	Equal
Barking	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	collie
Apartment suitability	Low (2/5)	Very high (5/5)	yorkshire terrier
Good for first-time owners	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	collie
Tolerates being alone	Moderate (3/5)	Low (2/5)	collie
Trainability	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	collie
Good with kids	Very high (5/5)	Moderate (3/5)	collie
Good with other dogs	High (4/5)	Moderate (3/5)	collie
Friendly to strangers	High (4/5)	Low (2/5)	collie
Cost level	Moderate (3/5)	High (4/5)	collie
Coat	Long double coat	Long, silky, hypoallergenic	Equal
Origin	Scotland	England	Equal
Typical monthly cost	$100–$200	$100–$190	Equal
Typical first-year cost	$1,500–$2,800	$1,400–$2,900	Equal

Deep dive

Size and build

The scale here is almost absurd: a Collie can weigh up to 75 lbs, a Yorkshire Terrier as little as 4, nearly a 19-to-1 ratio at the extremes. Height tells the same story, 22-26 inches against 7-8. These aren't two versions of the same kind of dog; they're opposite ends of what dog can mean.

Energy and exercise

The Yorkie needs low (2/5) exercise against the Collie's moderate (3/5), which tracks with its size, short walks and indoor play are enough for a dog this small. Energy level itself ties at moderate (3/5) for both, so the Yorkie isn't lazy, it just needs less volume to burn it off.

Grooming and shedding

The Yorkie flips the usual small-dog assumption: very high (5/5) grooming, the top tier, despite very low (1/5) shedding, that long silky coat needs regular brushing and often professional trims to avoid matting. The Collie sheds far more (high, 4/5) but needs a notch less grooming effort (high, 4/5) by comparison.

Apartment living, noise and time alone

The Yorkie rates very high (5/5) for apartment suitability against the Collie's low (2/5), no surprise given the size gap, but it barks high (4/5) against the Collie's moderate (3/5), which matters more in close-quarters housing than the square footage does.

Training and owner experience

The Collie leads clearly: very high (5/5) trainability against the Yorkie's moderate (3/5), and high (4/5) first-time-owner suitability against the Yorkie's moderate (3/5). Yorkies carry a well-earned reputation for big-dog attitude in a small frame, which can complicate training if you go in expecting an easy toy breed.

Kids, other dogs and visitors

The Collie outscores the Yorkie on every social line: kids (very high 5/5 vs moderate 3/5), other dogs (high 4/5 vs moderate 3/5), and strangers (high 4/5 vs low 2/5). A Yorkie's small size also makes rough play with young kids a genuine safety concern that a Collie's numbers don't carry.

Health and lifespan

The Yorkie's lifespan edges longer, 11-15 years against the Collie's 11-14, and both carry ten-condition lists, though the overlap is thin: only progressive retinal atrophy and hypothyroidism appear on both. The Yorkie's list includes toy-breed-specific risks like collapsing trachea, hypoglycemia, and portosystemic shunt that a larger dog like the Collie simply doesn't face.

Cost to keep

Despite its tiny size, the Yorkie rates high (4/5) for cost level against the Collie's moderate (3/5), though the actual dollar ranges land close: $100-190 monthly for the Yorkie against $100-200 for the Collie, and $1,400-2,900 versus $1,500-2,800 in year one. Grooming and the breed's higher vet-attention needs offset the food savings from its size.

Collie (Rough Collie) vs Yorkshire Terrier at a glance

Collie (Rough Collie) weighs 50–75 lbs and lives 11–14 years; Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4–7 lbs and lives 11–15 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, shedding and good with kids and 2 other rated axes. Almost every rated axis separates them at least slightly. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the size difference really?

Enormous: up to 75 lbs for a Collie against as little as 4 lbs for a Yorkie, roughly a 19-to-1 weight ratio at the extremes.

Does the Yorkie's tiny size mean lower costs?

Not really. Cost level actually rates high (4/5) for the Yorkie against moderate (3/5) for the Collie, with similar dollar ranges despite the size gap.

Which sheds more?

The Collie, considerably: high (4/5) against the Yorkie's very low (1/5), even though the Yorkie has a long coat.

Is the Yorkie easy to train?

Moderately, it rates moderate (3/5) for trainability against the Collie's very high (5/5). Yorkies are known for a confident, sometimes stubborn streak despite their size.

Is a Yorkie good with young kids?

The data rates it moderate (3/5) against the Collie's very high (5/5), worth factoring in given how easily a dog this small can be injured during rough play.

Do their health risks overlap?

Only two conditions: progressive retinal atrophy and hypothyroidism. The rest of the Yorkie's list is toy-breed-specific, collapsing trachea, hypoglycemia, and portosystemic shunt among them.

Which is quieter?

The Collie: moderate (3/5) barking against the Yorkie's high (4/5), a real consideration in an apartment or shared building.

Quick answers

View more answers

Behavior

Which is the overall easier dog to live with?

Depends on your space: the Collie is friendlier and easier to train, the Yorkie fits a small apartment and needs far less exercise.

Costs

Is the Yorkie cheaper to keep given its size?

Not by much: its cost level actually rates higher (4/5 vs 3/5) than the Collie's, and dollar ranges land close, $100-190 vs $100-200 monthly.

Living

Which needs less exercise?

The Yorkie, at low (2/5) against the Collie's moderate (3/5).

Health

Which breed lives longer?

The Yorkie, with a range up to 15 years against the Collie's 14-year ceiling.

Related DogBreedCompass guides

Collie (Rough Collie) breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Collie (Rough Collie) before deciding.
Yorkshire Terrier breed guide – The same for Yorkshire Terrier, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
Collie (Rough Collie) vs Golden Retriever – Golden Retriever is the closest breed to Collie (Rough Collie) on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
Yorkshire Terrier vs Brussels Griffon – Brussels Griffon sits closest to Yorkshire Terrier, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
What Collie (Rough Collie) costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
Yorkshire Terrier health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.

Related guides

Guide

Important reminder

Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.

Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and we only suggest products we believe are helpful for dog owners.

Find Your Perfect Breed

Match your lifestyle to the right dog.

Take quiz

Find your match

Not sure which breed is right for you? Take our 2-minute quiz to find out.

Take the quiz